Project Description
2014/01
Who’s in Charge Here?
One of the great joys of youth is anticipation of the future – the excitement of the unknown just around the corner. Where will I live? Will I marry and who will it be? What job will I do? Yet, for many, with joy come anxiety, dread and fear. Where are we to find help and stability as we face the future? These are found in the character of God!
It is humbling to recognise that we are not in ultimate control of the future. Pride proclaims that we are lords over our own destiny and have no need to acknowledge God. This was the mind-set of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:30: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” But God humbled him in a most dramatic fashion. To paraphrase one observation: ‘a man who thought himself a god was made a beast to learn that he was but a man.’ (v33) Being thus humbled, the king came to his senses again, bearing witness to the truth that we all need to know in order to face our unknown tomorrows: The Lord and not Babylon is the great power over all things (v35).
God’s sovereignty marks Him out as the great God. His kingdom is the great Kingdom, altogether different from the kingdoms of earth.
The realm of His kingdom is beyond the boundaries of this world, “…he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth…” Angels and men and nations are under His sovereign rule. His Kingdom is divine in origin (Dan. 2:34; 44f) and as Jesus said: “…is not of this world…” (John 18:36)
The rule of His kingdom cannot be restrained or questioned. “…He doeth according to His will…” “…But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” (Psalm 115:3) None can prevent God doing His will and none can question God as to His right to act or as to the rightness of those acts: “…none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” God always does what is right! Our worry about the unknown tomorrow is, ultimately, a worry that God might make a mistake. God’s sovereign will is always best and will always be fulfilled. That is true of the past, the present and the future for the reign of His Kingdom is everlasting: “…[His] dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation” (v34).
So face the future boldly – make wise and godly decisions – and do so in the confidence that the good and gracious God is working out “all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). Child of God, He is working out all things for your good (Romans 8:28). It‘s good to know who’s really in charge here!
Dr. Stephen Pollock
